Skin Looks Worse After Microneedling | Is This True? (Fact Check)

Are you exhausted from skin issues and thinking of surgery? There is one option instead of surgery that most people don’t consider. It is lesser-known due to the limited research and evidence supporting it, and the method is called microneedling. Microneedling is a relatively new procedure. There are tons of surgeries and home remedies for all the skin problems you’re facing. Creams, serums, home treatments, and various skin products are the first step one must take to calm and nourish your skin. After using and experimenting with the skincare regimen, we can think of more permanent and long-lasting solutions to this irreparable skin. But many people assume that the skin looks worse after microneedling. Let’s uncover the truth.   

Mature and aged skin is prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and saggy skin. Those women are not new to these troubles. Sensitive skin, be it mature or young, has to be treated with care. It is reactive and allergic to many serums and potent ingredients. Gentle treatments don’t act faster and take a very long time to show results. Strong products don’t suit most skins and cause reactions that worsen your skin’s condition. Microneedling is becoming popular as a treatment, and we’d like to know more about it. 

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Skin Looks Worse After Microneedling | Is It A Myth?

Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that involves using a very sharp device to make punctures in your skin. There is a straightforward aim for microneedling; it is done to stimulate the skin’s collagen production. This therapy is also known as collagen induction therapy. The main idea is that pinpricks from the process cause slight skin injury, which is responded to by developing new collagen tissue. The new skin cells which are produced are even in tone and texture. New skin cells on the skin surface make your skin firmer and even looking. Your doctor will make tiny pricks with a pen-like tool during the whole process. 

Before your treatment starts, the doctor will use something similar to a milding agent or anesthesia with the help of which you will not feel any pain. The actual treatment takes place in 30 minutes, but before and after treatment takes longer. Due to the time taken for the prep and the after-treatment, this treatment could take you hours in the doctor’s office. Microneedling is a painless treatment and does not cause you any trouble. Pricks and needles might be scary for you but let me assure you it isn’t painful. Your skin is sensitive, and you need to take care of it well. There are various reasons why people might think of getting microneedling done. 

Who Needs Microneedling?

Microneedling is done for various reasons. Some of them are as follows:

• Wrinkles 
• Scarring 
• Acne 
• Alopecia 
• Skin pigmentation 
• Stretch marks 
• Rosacea 
• Loose skin 
• Fine lines 
• Age spots 
• Large pores 
• Uneven skin tone 
• Sun damage 

These are some of the significant concerns that microneedling is suggested for. Microneedling can be used on your face and other parts of your body as well. However, almost all the microneedling treatments are limited to the face. Skin tissues get firmer and more toned skin. It is advised to treat stubborn scars, wrinkles, and other large pores. You need at least 4-6 sessions to get it right. They slather the numbing cream before the procedure, so you must come to the clinic with clean and dry skin. There are two kinds of people who cannot go through this procedure. One is people who are on acne medications and have to continue them. Pregnant women also should not go through the microneedling process.

What Are The Benefits?

• Rejuvenates skin: Microneedling has been introduced in the market for rejuvenating and stimulating the production of new skin cells. Collagen production is boosted, and new skin cells are formed. Heals and replenishes skin.
• Treats scars: Scars, stretch marks, and age spots are diminished and healed. The newly developed skin fills up and heals the wounds. 
• Even tone: One of the most important benefits is to have an even tone throughout your face. There is patchy and uneven skin on the face; to solve this significant issue, microneedling works. Pigmented and bad textures of your face define the amount and the need of the hour. 
• After effects: After the procedure, you’ll take a few days to get regular; reviews say that beyond that, your skin will start to feel better. Radiant, smooth, and other face issues are solved. 

What Are The Side Effects?

• Not a quick fix: Despite what it says in many reviews, this does not start to show results immediately. It is realistic to accept that your skin will heal and get better, so that will take time. Results are not seen upfront but take at least 2-3 treatments before observing a noticeable change. It takes days and weeks to heal according to your skin’s healing power. Healing time depends on how deep the needle is penetrating. 
• Pain: During the procedure, there is no pain, and you won’t feel anything that has been done to your skin. Although after the process, there is minor redness and swelling after the procedure. Your skin may be red, and it’ll need some days to get back to normal. Pain and slight swelling are typical for a few days after the procedure. 
• Peeling: Your skin peels at times. While your skin is healing, there is some flaking; this might indicate that your skin is healing. 
• Bruising and bleeding: Bruising and bleeding in the area is very rare. This does not happen to typical girls. In exceptional cases, the pen needle reaches deep into your skin. 
• Scarring: Scarring due to process later could be pretty standard. 
• Infection: Microneedling is when tiny pricks are made in the skin. These holes could be a way for germs to enter. One of the most important things to take care of is the clean equipment. The equipment used for microneedling could contain germs if not cleaned well. Although if you are healthy, the risk of infection becomes null. Overall, the infection risk is shallow but taken care of in this sector. 

Other Drawbacks

• Allergic reaction: After the process of microneedling, you could develop an allergy to any serums or lotions that you apply after the procedure. Technically, it would help if you stayed away from places containing many germs. Areas such as swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans. It would be best not to use irritating soaps; you must use only mild soap after microneedling. 
• Dryness and redness: There is a noticeable redness and dryness after the procedure. This could last for a couple of days if you have sensitive skin.
• Discomfort at the site
• There are certain kinds of skin which we should not consider for microneedling. Active skin infection, active acne, keloid scarring, and unstable skin type are the people who should not consider doing microneedling. 
• Limited research: Microneedling is a relatively new process, and little research has been done on the topic. While microneedling is effective for certain people, we cannot base our opinions very soon due to the limited research on the subject. 
• Price: One session of microneedling is pretty expensive, and we need at least 2-3 sessions before we can see any noticeable difference in your skin. This is a costly process and should be done by licensed professionals with supervision by physicians. It is not covered by insurance, and you will not get reimbursed for this. You have to pay for it from your pocket, and this process does not get any cheaper. 

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FAQs | Skin Looks Worse After Microneedling 

Will skin look worse after microneedling?

Yes, the skin will look worse after microneedling. Redness and itchiness in the skin are widespread after microneedling. Bleeding and infections are also some of the slight risks after microneedling. So we can agree that skin will look bad after microneedling, but how long before it gets better? If you have sensitive skin, it could take some days for your skin to get back to normal. Well, after the redness and the sensitivity for a few days, you finally can see the radiance and healing in your skin. It would take some time for your skin to get back to normal, but the truth is that skin needs a lot of care because it does look worse after the procedure of microneedling. 

What happens to the skin after microneedling? 

Microneedling is a procedure wherein your doctor would make tiny pricks in your skin with a small and sharp pen. The whole idea of microneedling is that the little pricks stimulate collagen production in the skin. Microneedling is bruising the skin for signaling the skin to make renewed and new skin. This new skin takes time to grow and heal the pricks. After a few days, you will observe radiant, softer, and tighter skin. All the skin issues like fine lines, wrinkles, and signs of aging go away after the skin has grown back.

How to treat your skin after microneedling?

Skin is susceptible and vulnerable after microneedling. Your skin may react in different ways in that condition. Moisturizing and hydrating the skin is significant. Remember to use mild and non-reactive products. You can respond and have allergic reactions if you use these controversial creams after your microneedling treatment. Using gentle and non-itchy soaps is very important. Having itchy skin is a prevalent thing to feel, and you should confirm with your dermatologist before using any non-itchy cream.

Where can you get microneedling done?

You can get the microneedling treatment done in your dermatologist’s office with some supervision. A plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon is also qualified to carry out this procedure. In some places, an esthetician can also carry out microneedling with the supervision of a physician. Users say you need at least four methods for the best microneedling results.  

Closure

There is an alternative to microneedling, and it is home rollers. Home rollers are not pricks are they are soft rollers that also help stimulate collagen production in your skin. They don’t hurt or make an injury. They are just a mellow-down version of microneedling. Home rollers may not be as effective and results-driven as microneedling, which is why not many people prefer microneedling. The home rollers’ inefficiency is one reason why women are suggested to choose microneedling, which is done under a licensed professional. Microneedling is done to correct fine lines, wrinkles, scars, age spots, large pores, and pigmentation in the skin but it is somehow true that skin looks worse after microneedling. 

Well, your skin will look worse after microneedling for some time, this phase will last for a few days, and then the actual results will start to set in. The pricks in the skin stimulate your skin to produce more collagen. Collagen production heals and develops new and renewed skin. Skin looks firmer and replenished. This is a skin rejuvenation therapy, and you need to take care of your skin after the process. Using mild and hypoallergenic products is your best shot at not having any reactions. While there is little research on the microneedling procedure, a base is yet to form. There are initial struggles in taking care of your skin after the process, and you have to stay at home. While there have been promising results, microneedling looks very unpredictable and risky in such a phenomenon. Instead, you should have patience and use natural products for your skin problems.